Don't plan too hard!

love doing my thing

A friend trusted in my strength! And, that led to practicing and eventually successfully lifting myself into a challenging Bird Pose from Yoga. Trusting my friend has taught me to trust myself. Being patient with my body and gently inching into the pose has led me to count-on-myself to reach any goal that I set for myself! Thanks to my dear friend. (My current strength allows me to hold this pose for just a few seconds … WAITING for a touchdown!)

Thousands of memories flooded my mind watching this one moment. This is his yearly tradition – to give his two kids balloons on their birthdays. Our son turned 17 a couple of days ago 🙂 I don’t see him stopping this tradition any time soon 🙂 🙂

I came across this wild-flower during my walk with Sir Thomas. As he was sniffing for a spot to mark; I happened to spot this tiny wild-flower. It was almost fall season last year, and an unusual time for this to be in bloom. It’s VIBRANT yellow color caught my attention for sure! And, when I enlarged this photo…the perfect symmetry blew my mind! Our nature is amazing!

I’m a grown-up but will always be a kid at heart. My optimism, always colorful!

Things around me are blurry often times, and I understand that’s because the world has infinite offerings. They all overlap and become out of focus in my mind. But, one of the infinite offerings is always clear in my head. I completely embrace it. And, it’s being optimistic. Simply put, I live it! It motivates me. I am, after all, the Unstoppable Optimistic blogger.

When I crossed our main street to get to the sidewalk, Thomas, my beagle, pulled me to the left, a path we rarely take, as I, automatically, turned to the right, a path we usually take. I decided to follow his lead. He seemed happy. His tail wagging, he took his time walking.

Nice cool breeze on a warm wintry day kept embracing us. And, the mostly cloudy day felt more like spring, not winter. I felt my mind happily hopping. I heard a complex symphony of sounds in the background – The chirping of the birds flying over us; the humming of the cars whizzing by us; the soft bark of a dog coming from nearby distance; the rustling of leaves on trees around us.

As Thomas and I sauntered, I couldn’t help but chuckle remembering an encounter with an acquaintance – I had asked her about why she preferred walking alone. She had blatantly answered, “Sweetie, because I can fart freely!”

I, too, realize walking by myself is immensely satisfying! An accurate definition of myself would be – me and my dog! These walks are exclusive – My conversations with myself remain private; my quiet times remain absolutely and phenomenally soothing; my silly but unavoidable burps, spits, and farts become one with the nature :). Thomas and I walk completely immersed in our own worlds. I walk leisurely at my own pace. Actually, leisurely at Thomas’ pace :). But, both walking, joyfully.

It’s the right thing to think that this planet is my Mother-Earth! But it’s not my right to own it. But it’s time to make that right turn to care for this planet.

It’s the right thing to think that I must devote my time to raise and love my offsprings! But it’s not my right to own them. But it’s time to make that right turn to set them free and let them spread their wings.

It’s the right thing to think that I must love myself. But it’s not my right to own myself. So, it’s time to make that right turn to open my heart to live, laugh and love. And, towards the end make that right turn to become one with Mother Earth, who ultimately has the right to own me. And, that is the right thing to do!

November 2015: My daughter wants her friends to make tie-dye shirts during her sleepover birthday party. We buy a kit at a craft store for $12. (Not bad!)

Birthday party day arrives – While my daughter and her friends go for bowling and pizza; we, her Dad and I, set up her tie-dye stuff — plastic tablecloth, gloves, paper towels, buckets, shirts and the kits. All set! (We are relieved!)

My daughter calls around 9 p.m., “I’m cancelling the tie-dye activity because it’s too late.” She tells us to get rid of the stuff before they arrive home. Hurriedly, her Dad runs down to the basement, and quickly rolls up the plastic tablecloth with the tie-dye stuff, and sticks the whole thing behind our office area. (Whew! All set! Relieved again!) Next morning, party comes to a nice end, after a round of cinnamon rolls for everyone. (Yummy!)

December 2015: One month later.

10:30 A.M. – I go to the craft store and return the tie-dye kit. I get my $12 back. Now, I have some cash in my wallet. (I feel happy!)

2:30 P.M. – I drove my daughter to the animal shelter where she walks, loves and plays with the dogs. She does this 6-days a week.

5 P.M. – I pick her up from the shelter. (I can’t wait to go home and relax). Just then my daughter gets a call from a friend to join her for a holiday show. (No more relaxing!). (Oh, her Dad can drop her.) (Yay!) (I feel relaxed already!)

6:30 P.M. – She needed money to buy a ticket for the show. (Not an issue!). I give her the two $5 bills from the return I made at the craft store. (Down to $2 in my wallet.)

6:40 P.M. – Almost out of our drive way, I watch the car suddenly stop. (Why?) “Hurry, I need $2 more, tickets are $12.” I run inside — grab two $1 bills — give them to her. Off they go! (My wallet is now cash-free!) (But, now I can relax — that’s priceless!)

What just happened here? Little things just happened here! My returning the tie-dye kit! Receiving the $12! Giving away that same $12 for tickets! The ticket price happening to be $12. Hmm!

DING! My thoughts were abruptly paused by a text. “Can u check to see if the money fell in the driveway?” (What?!) ($ lost!) (Already!) (How?!) (And, just like that! – POOF!) (The $12 vanished) (How?!) (I think I asked that before … but really) (How?!)

“Not in the driveway. It has to be in the car cuz u did not come out of the car,” I text her back.

So very weird? I went through the entire tie-dye chain of events – buying the kit, returning the kit, giving the money from the return to my daughter! Only to have it lost! Small events make me wonder and ponder!